California’s average retail gasoline price has fallen almost $0.03 since the start of the week and roughly $0.20 over the past month, according to figures highlighted by Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office. The administration says the decline has pushed pump prices to their lowest July level in several years, easing costs for motorists ahead of the Independence Day travel surge. The drop contradicts Republican warnings of a $0.65-per-gallon increase that they said would take effect on 1 July. Instead, the state recorded another modest price reduction on that date, the governor’s office said, crediting recent state measures requiring greater disclosure of oil company profits and pricing practices. Even after the slide, California drivers are still paying about $1.40 more per gallon than the U.S. average, with prices now higher than in Hawaii. By comparison, Texas and Oklahoma stations are posting roughly $2.72 a gallon. Republican critics argue the persistent premium underscores the state’s regulatory and tax burden despite its own oil reserves.